Ryder Cup: The greatest moment as voted for by you - BBC Sport BBC Sport Ryder Cup: The greatest moment as voted for by you 18 Sep 2014 The biennial tussle between Europe and the USA has a back catalogue of classic moments and BBC Sport selected 10 of the greatest. Ahead of next week's contest at Gleneagles, we asked you to choose the best from our shortlist. Find out how you voted below and click here to listen to the BBC Radio 5 live debate. 1st (47%) - Poulter's five straight birdies provide spark for Europe's "Miracle at Medinah" - 2012 The scene: Holders Europe, containing four of the top five players in the world, were heading for the kind of defeat they had not experienced for more than 30 years. Media playback is not supported on this device 2012: Poulter sparks Miracle at Medinah At 10-4 down on Saturday afternoon, they were at least boosted by a one-hole win for Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald over Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

However, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy were two down on Jason Dufner and Dustin Johnson with six to play. The moment: Not so much one moment but five of them as Poulter, a European talisman with 10 victories in his previous 13 matches, hit the hottest of putting streaks. In birdieing each of the final five holes, Poulter charged to a one-hole win, sealing victory with a nerveless 10-footer in the gloom of the 18th. His wide-eyed, fist-pumping roar was a sign of visiting defiance. "We have a pulse," he later told his team-mates. What followed was the greatest European comeback in the history of the Cup. Eight-and-a-half points taken from the singles might have been the Miracle of Medinah, but Europe would have been too far back had it not been for Poulter's heroics. Poulter: "You know what, these might be my majors. If they are, that's fine. If this is it, I'm a happy man.

I've got more pride and passion to give in the Ryder Cup than I feel to win a major." 2nd (22%) - Clarke's emotional reception on the first tee following the death of his wife - 2006 The scene: Europe not only defended the Cup in 2004, but handed out an 18½-9½ thrashing at Oakland Hills. That, though, seemed irrelevant in the build-up to 2006 at the K Club in Ireland. Media playback is not supported on this device 2006: Clarke gets emotional reception at the K Club Darren Clarke's wife Heather died of cancer shortly after that year's Open, with Clarke subsequently halting all his playing commitments. Clarke would need a wildcard selection from captain Ian Woosnam and, when it was offered, Clarke accepted in accordance with the dying wish of his wife. The moment: Clarke was partnered with Lee Westwood in the final fourball match on a crisp, clear first morning in Dublin.

As the pair left the putting green, Westwood went on ahead to "work the crowd" and when the Northern Irishman strode into the arena around the first tee he was hit with what he later described as a "tsunami of noise". With lumps in every throat, and Westwood and Clarke's caddie Billy Foster in tears, Clarke belted a 300-yard drive down the middle and birdied the first. The Europeans beat Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco one up, and Clarke went on to win the other two matches he played, as Europe recorded another 18½-9½ win. Clarke: "When Woosie dedicated the Ryder Cup to Heather, I doubt there was a dry eye in the house. Heather had wanted me to play and I'd done my bit. I knew she would have been proud." 3rd (11%) - The Concession. Nicklaus offers Jacklin a half to tie the match - 1969 The scene: Great Britain had won only three times in 42 years and were thrashed in 1967.

Media playback is not supported on this device 1969: Jack Nicklaus concedes to Tony Jacklin But in perhaps the closest Ryder Cup in history, 17 of the 32 matches at Royal Birkdale went to the final hole. With only one pair left on the course, the contest was level at 15½-15½. The moment: The Cup came down to the final match between America's then seven-time major winner Jack Nicklaus and 25-year-old Englishman Tony Jacklin, that year's Open Champion. After Jacklin eagled the 17th, the match was all-square going down the last, with both men on the green in two. When Nicklaus holed a five-footer, Jacklin had two feet for a half and a share of the Cup - Great Britain's best result for 12 years. But rather than asking Jacklin to putt, Nicklaus sportingly picked up his marker, halving the match and tieing the Ryder Cup for the first time. Nicklaus: "I felt like the US was going to retain the Cup either way.

I didn't think it was in the spirit of the game to make Jacklin have a chance to miss a two-footer to lose the match in front of his fans." The Ryder roots A seed-seller named Samuel Ryder was in the crowd for the second of two unofficial matches between Great Britain and the United States in 1926 and donated money - and a gold cup - as GB travelled to Massachusetts for the first official match in 1927. 4th (9%) - Champagne time. Torrance seals first win for Europe and USA's first defeat since 1957 - 1985 The scene: Following that historic Great Britain win at Lindrick, Yorkshire, in 1957, the US arrived at the Belfry unbeaten in 28 years. The Great Britain and Ireland team had been expanded to Europe in 1979, but despite two more heavy defeats, the tide was turning. In 1983, Tony Jacklin's side had come within a point of victory.

Media playback is not supported on this device Classic Ryder Cup: Sam Torrance seals first win in 28 years in 1985 The moment: With Jacklin back in charge, Europe held a 9-7 lead going into the Sunday singles in 1985. The tactic of loading the middle of his order worked and, by the seventh match, Sam Torrance could win the Cup with victory over Andy North. Finding the 18th green in two, Torrance needed only one of the three putts he was afforded from 18 feet and the Cup was finally in European hands. Jacklin drank Champagne on the green and was lifted on to Torrance's shoulders on the clubhouse roof to the delight of the singing crowd. Torrance: "We partied through the night and, in fact, for the next four days.

I was meant to go home to London the day after the match but instead we drank six bottles of champagne and ended up partying for three more nights." 5th (3%) - Olazabal's jig of delight as Europe win in the USA for the first time - 1987 The scene: Europe winning for the first time in 28 years was one thing, but the US had never been beaten on home soil. Their quest to regain the Cup was led by Jack Nicklaus, in his home state of Ohio, on the Muirfield Village course he designed. The moment: A stunning opening two days - including winning all of Friday afternoon's fourballs - gave Europe a 10½-5½ lead ahead of the singles. Media playback is not supported on this device 1987: Europe claim first win in US The US fought back - five wins from the opening seven matches - but victory for Eamonn Darcy over Ben Crenshaw and Bernhard Langer's half with Larry Nelson left the stage clear for Seve Ballesteros.

The Spaniard's 2&1 win over Curtis Strange saw the first victory in America completed with a tearful Jacklin proclaiming it to be "the best week of his life". In Nick Faldo's words, "that was when the Ryder Cup got serious", but the abiding memory is of Jose Maria Olazabal, after his debut in the event, dancing across the 18th green. Olazabal: "Whenever I see it I feel more embarrassed, ashamed even, than the time before. But I was young, it was my debut and I was so happy that my emotions took over." On the trophy The figure on top of the Ryder Cup trophy is Abe Mitchell, who Samuel Ryder employed as his personal golf teacher. Mitchell was supposed to lead Great Britain in 1927, but was struck down by appendicitis. He did play in 1929, 1931 and 1933. 6th (2%) - McDowell birdies the 16th to set up Europe's win at Celtic Manor - 2010 The scene: Celtic Manor was battered with rain as Europe attempted to regain the Cup surrendered at Valhalla two years earlier.

Media playback is not supported on this device McDowell seals win for Europe in 2010 The weekend weather ensured that, for the first time, the Ryder Cup would be completed on a Monday. Europe began the day with a 9½-6½ lead. The moment: As the Americans staged a day-long fightback, it became clear that the fate of the Cup would rest on the final singles match between Hunter Mahan and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell. Amidst a huge crowd, and in front of millions on TV, McDowell holed a 15ft birdie putt on the 16th to go two up with two to play. When Mahan duffed a chip from the edge of the 17th green and missed the following putt, the Cup was Europe's again. McDowell: "Sixteen was massive, wow. It was the best putt I've hit in my life.

The US Open [McDowell won earlier that year] felt like a back nine with my dad back at Portrush compared to that." 7th (2%) - Faldo fights back against Strange as Europe clinch victory at Oak Hill - 1995 Nick Faldo (right) came from one down with two to play to win a crucial point The scene: After losing at home in 1993, Europe were chasing a second away win in what would be the last of Bernard Gallacher's three Cups as captain and Seve Ballesteros's eighth and final match as a player. Media playback is not supported on this device 1995: Faldo fires Europe to victory at Oak Hill Trailing 9-7 at the beginning of the singles, an ageing Europe team would have to overcome a final-day deficit for the first time if they were to win the Cup, all on an Oak Hill course tailored for the hosts. The moment: The Cup was hanging in the balance, and Nick Faldo's match with Curtis Strange looked pivotal. But the Englishman was one down with two to play.

As Strange bogeyed the last three holes, Faldo needed to get down in two from 94 yards to win on the last. He hit a wedge to within five feet, holed the put and took the point. When Philip Walton beat Jay Haas on the 18th, the Ryder Cup was Europe's once more. Faldo: "It was the best scrambling par I ever made. Everything was churning inside me as I came down the stretch and when I stood over that wedge shot I had to fight to keep my legs still. I knew how important it was and I was questioning myself: 'Can I still do it?'." Cup of plenty Ten of the last 15 Ryder Cups have been decided by a margin of two points or less. Of those, one match (1989) was tied, while seven were won by a single point. 8th (2%) - McGinley the unlikely hero as Europe win back the Cup at the Belfry - 2002 The scene: Europe had to wait three years for the chance to regain the Ryder Cup because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001.

When the US did arrive at the Belfry, they were faced with a European team led by Sam Torrance, the vice-captain left so angry three years earlier. The moment: With the match locked at 8-8, Torrance front-loaded his singles order and saw his team claim four and a half of the first six points. Media playback is not supported on this device 2002: McGinley the hero as Europe regain the Cup With unsung Welshman Phillip Price pulling off a 3&2 win over Phil Mickelson, Irish rookie Paul McGinley had a 10-foot putt on the 18th for the half with Jim Furyk that would seal the Ryder Cup. When the ball dropped, McGinley bounced up and down before being mobbed by his team and a tearful Torrance. To celebrate, McGinley jumped in the green-side lake and his soaking-wet pose with the Irish tricolour provided the Ryder Cup with one of its most enduring images.

McGinley: "As it went in the hole, I put my arms in the air and wondered 'why isn't anyone jumping on top of me?' I thought 'maybe it's lipped out?' I saw Sergio Garcia jumping up and down, then they came on. But, in real time, it was only one second. For me, time stood still." 9th (1%) - Leonard's monster putt sparks premature 'green invasion' at the "Battle of Brookline" - 1999 The scene: Europe faced a hostile atmosphere before they defended the Cup in Brookline - Jeff Maggert said that the US "had the best 12 players in the world" - and that continued when the matches began. Media playback is not supported on this device 1999: Leonard's putt sparks controversy at Brookline Heckling and abuse towards the Europeans was common from the home fans, but the Americans still trailed 10-6 going into the singles. The moment: Following a morning speech from future president George W Bush, the US roared back, winning all six of the opening singles.

Jose Maria Olazabal had a four-hole lead over Justin Leonard with seven to play, but, by the 17th, the match was all-square with the US needing only a half to regain the Cup. From over 40 feet, Leonard sank a remarkable putt, which many of the US team believed had sealed victory. Players, caddies and even some spectators invaded the green to celebrate. Olazabal, though, still had his 25-foot putt for a half and the Spaniard was forced to wait for the area to be cleared. Ultimately, the match was halved to give victory to the Americans, but the home side were heavily criticised for the events on the 17th green. European vice-captain Sam Torrance: "It's about the most disgusting thing I've seen in my life." US player Davis Love III: "We didn't cry when we lost two in a row. And how long have they been calling our wives 'flight attendants' and 'bimbos'? They act like we're the only ones who do it." Ryder roles reversed Of the first 25 Ryder Cup matches between 1927 and 1983, the United States lost only three times.

Ireland were added to the Great Britain team in 1973, with the rest of Europe joining in 1979. Since 1985, the US have won on only four occasions. 10th (1%) - Langer's putt slips by on the final green as the USA win the "War on the Shore" - 1991 The scene: In the year of the first Gulf War, US captain Dave Stockton played on patriotism at Kiawah Island - Corey Pavin wore a Desert Storm cap - and tempers were frayed throughout. Media playback is not supported on this device 1991: Langer loses to Irwin at Kiawah Island Ballesteros and Olazabal clashed with Paul Azinger and Chip Beck over an alleged ball change, while Stockton caused controversy by retaining the injured Steve Pate in his team, then withdrawing Pate from the singles, meaning his match with David Gilford was halved. The moment: Amidst all the bad blood, the Cup would be decided by the final singles match between Hale Irwin and Bernhard Langer, who was two down with four to play.

When Irwin three-putted the 17th, Langer drew level to silence the huge gallery, but his second to the 18th found the edge of a bunker, only for a putt from off the green to leave the German with a six-footer to retain the Cup. In barely believable tension, Langer's putt slipped by the right of the hole, Irwin had a half and the United States won the Ryder Cup for the first time in eight years. Langer: "Everybody remembers the six-foot putt I missed on the last, and rightly so, but I was also two down with four to go. If I'd missed any of the earlier putts, I wouldn't even have played 18. There's a lot more to it. Every point, every half-point, counts equally, whether it's in the morning or the afternoon." Scotland's second The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles marks only the second occasion that the matches have been played in Scotland. In 1973 at Muirfield, Europe were yet to join. England has hosted the Cup on 15 occasions, but not since 2002.

Share this page Ryder Cup History, History of the Ryder Cup - Ryder Cup 2014 Facts Ryder Cup History A little over 90 years ago, 20 men assembled at Gleneagles in the heartland of Scotland for an international challenge match between Great Britain and the United States. Among them were golfing greats such as Harry Vardon, J.H Taylor and Walter Hagen. The 1921 match had no name, no real fanfare and no trophy to play for - but it whetted the appetite and eventually gave rise to the phenomenon of The Ryder Cup, first officially played six years later. It is the second time in history that The Ryder Cup has been staged in Scotland, The Home of Golf, the last time was more than 40 years ago. 2014 saw Team Europe complete a hat-trick of successive wins. In 1973, the American team containing the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino beat Great Britain & Ireland at the tournament held at Muirfield. Fast forward to the last Ryder Cup at Medinah, when the European team overturned a four-point deficit going into the last day’s singles matches and went on to win.

With such history, it is needless to say that The 2014 Ryder Cup was a tremendous occasion with Europe completing their third successive wins over the visiting American team at Gleneagles. Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota will host the 41st Ryder Cup in 2016. For more information, click here . 1921 The King’s Course at Gleneagles is the venue for an unofficial match between Great Britain and the USA. Great Britain wins this precursor to The Ryder Cup, with James Braid, designer of the King’s Course, playing his part in the home victory. 1927 The inaugural Ryder Cup takes place at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The course was designed by Donald Ross, the legendary course architect from Dornoch. The Americans, captained by ‘golf’s first superstar’ Walter Hagen, win the match. 1929 Aberdeenshire man George Duncan captains Great Britain to victory over the USA in the second ever Ryder Cup and the first one on British soil. Duncan beats rival captain Walter Hagen 10 and 8 in a 36-hole singles match.

The venue course, Moortown in Leeds, was designed by Alister MacKenzie, the Scots creator of Augusta National. 1933 Great Britain wins the 4th Ryder Cup at Southport & Ainsdale in England. The course was designed by James Braid. The Ryder Cup returns to Southport & Ainsdale in 1937. 1951 The USA wins the 9th Ryder Cup at the iconic Pinehurst No. 2 course in North Carolina. The course is another Donald Ross design. 1963 Johnny Fallon from Lanark captains the British team against Arnold Palmer’s USA. The venue is East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia. Donald Ross shaped this course too. George Will from Ladybank in Fife defeats Palmer in the final day singles, but the Americans win the 15th Ryder Cup. 1969 Eric Brown from Bathgate captains Great Britain against Sam Snead’s USA in the 18th Ryder Cup at Royal Birkdale in England. In a memorable finale, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin halve their match on the final hole for The Ryder Cup to end in a tie for the very first time.

Another Bathgate man Bernhard Gallacher becomes the youngest player to represent Britain at the age of 20. 1971 Aberdonian Harry Bannerman picks up two-and-a-half points for Great Britain at the 19th Ryder Cup at the Old Warson Country Club in St Louis, Missouri. He secures the half in his final day singles match against Arnold Palmer. The Americans win The Ryder Cup. 1973 Muirfield in East Lothian becomes the first Scottish course to host The Ryder Cup. The Great Britain team becomes Great Britain & Ireland for the first time, but the Americans win the 20th Ryder Cup. 1975 Anglo-Scot Brian Barnes beats Jack Nicklaus twice in the singles in the same day at the 21st Ryder Cup at Laurel Valley in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Norman Wood from Prestonpans in East Lothian also beats Lee Trevino in his final day singles match, but the Americans win this Ryder Cup. 1979 Sandy Lyle makes his Ryder Cup debut at the 23rd Ryder Cup at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Great Britain & Ireland is now Europe with Seve Ballesteros among the continental players taking part. The USA wins though. Lyle will go on to play in five Ryder Cups and feature in 18 matches. 1985 Sam Torrance memorably holes the winning putt for Europe in the 26th Ryder Cup at The Belfry. It’s Europe’s first Ryder Cup win in 28 years. 1987 Kirkcaldy-born Gordon Brand, Jnr is part of the winning European team at the 27th Ryder Cup at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. He features again two years later when Europe retains the Ryder Cup at The Belfry. 1995 Bernard Gallacher captains Europe to victory at the 31st Ryder Cup at Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York. It is only the second time the Americans are beaten on home soil. It’s third time lucky for Gallacher as Ryder Cup captain. 1999 The 33rd Ryder Cup at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts is won by the Americans in controversial circumstances.

Former Open champion Paul Lawrie features in the European team, playing in five matches with a 3-1-1 record. The course was largely the work of Willie Campbell of Musselburgh. 2002 Sam Torrance captains Europe to victory in the 34th Ryder Cup at The Belfry, 17 years after holing the winning putt at the same venue. 2010 Colin Montgomerie captains Europe to victory in the 38th Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales. Before captaining Europe, Montgomerie played in 36 matches at 8 Ryder Cups and was never beaten in a singles match. 2012 Scotland's Paul Lawrie was pivotal in 'the miracle at Medinah' success, recording a resounding 5&3 victory over in-form Brandt Snedeker to get early points on the board and help ensure the Ryder Cup Trophy is in European hands come Gleneagles 2014. 2014 Paul McGinley leads the European team to a hat-trick of victories with a comfortable margin of 16½-11½.

The crowd erupts when Jamie Donaldson hits a stunning shot to the green on the 15th hole securing the point that retained Sam Ryder's golden chalice for Europe. A brilliant moment for the European team and Scotland, The Home of Golf. The Ryder Cup: Nothing to play for but pride - CNN.com The Ryder Cup: Nothing to play for but pride By Paul Gittings, CNN Updated 1048 GMT (1848 HKT) September 27, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Spanish matadors – Severiano Ballestereros hugs his youthful Spanish compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal as their incredible partnership got underway during the 1987 match at Muirfield Village. Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Invincible line-up – The 1981 United States Ryder Cup team is rated the strongest in their history and they romped to victory over the Europeans at Walton Heath.

Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Flamboyant hero – Ballesteros famously drove the par-four 10th at The Belfry in 1985 as he inspired the European team to their crushing victory over the U.S. Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Pivotal win – Sam Torrance holed the winning putt at The Belfry in 1985 as Europe sealed a comprehensive victory over the United States to snap their long-standing domination of the team event. The last time the U.S. had failed to retain the trophy was 1957. Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Early trailblazers – In the beginning. The Great Britain and Ireland team on its way to the inaugural match in 1927 in Boston, Massachusetts, where the United States were deserving winners. Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments American domination – The great Walter Hagen is handed the trophy after a convincing victory for the Americans in the 1937 match at Southport -- the first time an away team had claimed the trophy.

Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Dai's delight – A very rare victory for Great Britain and Ireland saw a team led by Dai Rees capture the trophy at Lindrick in 1957 but the U.S. quickly regained the trophy and held it until 1985. Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments True sportsmanship – Tony Jacklin and Jack Nicklaus shake hands at the end of their famous tied singles match at Royal Birkdale in 1969 -- leaving the overall match tied at 16-16 in a gripping encounter. Nicklaus conceded a tricky putt for Jacklin on the last green in a famous act of sportmanship. Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Vital change – For the first time ever, the 1979 Ryder Cup found two Spaniards - Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido (4th and 3rd from right) - joining players from Great Britain and Ireland in competing against the United States. The match took place in West Virginia, where the home side triumphed again.

Hide Caption 9 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Captain fantastic – European captain Jacklin harnessed the talent of Ballesteros as his team ended the United States' lengthy winning run during the 1980s. Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Rivals united – A tearful Ballesteros hugs arch-rival Nick Faldo after the Englishman scored a crucial victory over Curtis Strange as Europe won the 1995 match at Oak Hill. Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Inspirational figure – Golf legend Ballesteros captained Europe to a narrow victory over the Americans in 1997 as the match was held on Spanish soil for the first time at Valderrama. Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Bernhard's blues – The agony of defeat: Bernhard Langer reacts after missing the putt which would have tied the match against the United States at Kiawah Island in 1991.

Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Infamous encounter – Justin Leonard is hugged by his teammates after beating Jose Maria Olazabal at the infamous match at Brookline in 1999. Olazabal had yet to make his putt to keep their singles clash alive when the U.S. team dashed onto the 17th green. Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Boo blast – Boo Weekley's first fairway antics were a celebrated feature of the shock win for the United States over Europe at Valhalla in 2008. Hide Caption 15 of 16 Photos: Ryder Cup memorable moments Magic McDowell – Graeme McDowell was the last-day hero of Europe's narrow victory at Celtic Manor two years ago and he will take his place at Medinah looking for a repeat.

Hide Caption Most celebrated team event in golf gets underway Friday Europe defend Ryder Cup against United States at Medinah Club in Chicago Europe has won six of the last eight meetings of the biennial clash United States dominated prior to European players competing from 1979 onwards Less than a week after Brandt Snedeker picked up an eye watering $11.5 million check as he claimed the FedEx Cup, the best golfers from the United States and Europe will go head to head with not a dime on the line and with nothing to play for but pride itself. The 39th Ryder Cup matches at Medinah Country Club in Chicago will be watched by packed and partisan galleries and a huge global television audience, but for the 12 players on each team overall victory in the biennial team event is all that matters. They are playing for expenses only and whenever the issue of financial rewards is raised, it is quickly ruled out. "No prize money is involved, just a lot of pride," three-time European captain Bernard Gallacher told CNN. "And the matches are very, very competitive." The American team will have the Stars and Stripes running through their veins and it's a chance for the Europeans to combine under a united flag.

JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Is Olazabal ready for Ryder Cup? 07:05 "It's the only competition we have with the United States outside the occasional football match and it's the same for them given that their main sports are baseball, gridiron and ice-hockey," said Bill Elliott, Chair of the Association of Golf Writers. "Let's face it, it's not hard for Americans to show nationalistic pride! " the Briton added with tongue in cheek. Timely intervention This is a contest which grips golf and sports fans for three days but was in danger of extinction in the 1970s and had it not been for the intervention of 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, it may well have withered and died. Nicklaus proposed to Earl Derby, the then president of the Professional Golfers Association, that players from continental Europe should augment the Great Britain and Ireland line-up to make for a better contest. The United States had only lost once in the post-war era -- in 1957 at Lindrick -- and interest, particularly in America, was dwindling.

Nicklaus' suggestion was taken up, so in 1979 two Spaniards, Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido, took their place for the match at Greenbrier in West Virginia. Read: Golfing Gangsters: Al Capone's Chicago outfit would have loved the Ryder Cup This did not prevent the visiting team from suffering a heavy defeat, but as Elliott, who was reporting his first of 17 Ryder Cups and counting, recalls, the change was "absolutely essential". Scot Gallacher made one of his eight appearances as a player in that watershed encounter and admitted "Seve and Antonio had disappointing matches." (They both had 1-4-0 records.) "However, their participation in the long-term saved the Ryder Cup," he added. Two years later, Ballesteros sat out proceedings at Walton Heath in 1981 after a dispute over his European Tour membership, but even he would have been able to do little to prevent what is rated the strongest U.S. team in history thrashing the home side. United Europe That was to be last time that the U.S.

enjoyed such a level of domination and by the time of the next match at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida in 1983, the Europeans were united under the captaincy of Tony Jacklin, with Ballesteros in his pomp. A narrow defeat was followed by a resounding victory at The Belfry in 1985. Ballesteros famously drove the 311-yard 10th at the Midlands club to set the scene. Sam Torrance sunk the winning putt and the champagne flowed as the players celebrated on the clubhouse roof as Concorde flew past. "There wasn't a dry eye in the house," said Elliott. When rookie Jose Maria Olazabal and Ballesteros led from the front to help Europe to their first win on U.S. soil in the 1987 match at Muirfield Village, the transformation of the event into a clash like no other was finally complete. MUST WATCH Olazabal ready to lead Ryder Cup team 05:10 Olazabal, who will captain Europe in Chicago this week, says he was addicted to the Ryder Cup drug from the moment he first sampled the atmosphere.

"That 1987 Ryder Cup was very special to me -- it made me realize how special the event was and I fell in love with it straight away," he told CNN. Top partnership His partnership in four balls and foursomes (where the players take a alternative shots) with Ballesteros was to bring 11 wins and two tied rubbers in 15 matches over the course of four Ryder Cup contests. Despite their domination, it was the United States who made a mini comeback of their own. They tied the match at The Belfry in 1989, then wrested the trophy back in the "War on the Shore" at Kiawah Island in 1991, where Bernhard Langer agonizingly missed a tricky putt to force another tie. The U.S. also won at The Belfry in 1993, but a European team under Gallacher's captaincy took the trophy back at Oak Hill in 1995 to spark a run of six victories in the last eight contests. It was Ballesteros' last match as a player and he was sadly past his best, losing his last day singles.

But his tearful embrace with arch rival Nick Faldo, who had beaten Curtis Strange in the key match, is symptomatic of the spirit of the Ryder Cup, where individual performances are secondary to the team effort. Gallacher had tasted narrow defeat as a non-playing skipper in 1991 and 1993 so victory in such fashion was sweet. "I felt I made a few mistakes in the first two matches, but feel I learned from those mistakes for the 1995 match," he said. The two victories for the United States since 1995 have both been on home soil: the infamous "Battle of Brookline" in 1999 and at Valhalla in 2008. Raucous galleries Olazabal will doubtless still have the images of 1999 deep in his memory as the U.S. team poured on to the green after Justin Leonard's putt gave him victory over the Spaniard. But Olazabal still had his own putt to halve the 17th, meaning that golf etiquette had been breached. He missed the 25-footer and the cup was heading back across the Atlantic. The U.S.

win in 2008 in Kentucky was also greeted by raucous galleries but not on the level of 1991 and 1999, and both captains -- Olazabal and David Love III -- have spoken of the need for the traditions of the match to be preserved at Medinah. Based on the world rankings, it is likely to be a close run affair. Europe has four of the top five in the rankings, led by world No.1 Rory McIlroy, but the home team boasts 10 inside the top 20 and have -- in wild card pick Snedeker -- the man of the moment after his triumph in Atlanta. The lowest ranked player in the match is Belgian rookie Nicolas Colsaerts at No.35, which demonstrates the quality of the offering over three days of competition. The first two days are taken up with fourball and foursomes team play, with 12 head to head singles matches rounding off the action Sunday. McIlroy's likely face off with No.2 Tiger Woods is set to be a final day highlight but nearly every expert is predicting a nip and tuck affair.

Close match "My hope is that it will be a close match and that the result will come down to the final pairing and the final green," said Elliott. "Then I hope the USA win because if we keep on winning, then the interest on the Stars and Stripes side of the Atlantic will start to wane." "It really is too close to call," added Gallacher. It will all be a far cry from the first Ryder Cup in Massachusetts in 1927 where the Great Britain and Ireland team traveled by ocean liner to contest a trophy which was the brainchild of English businessman Sam Ryder. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Bill Murray steals Ryder Cup 01:07 They lost rather easily but it was not until 1937 that a U.S. team captained by Walter Hagen achieved the first 'away' win. It was the signal for U.S. domination, with only the 1957 win and the 1969 halved match at Royal Birkdale, where Jacklin and Nicklaus played a memorable last day singles, offering GB and Ireland any consolation.

Nicklaus, forever in touch with the history of his beloved sport, then made his crucial intervention, meaning the contest came alive and since 1979 we have seen eight European wins, seven for the United States and one tied match. Ballesteros, who played such a key role in the European resurgence, both as a player and captain of the winning team on Spanish soil in 1997, will be in everyone's thoughts this week. It is the first match since he sadly passed away in May 2011 and Olazabal's men have a special image of him emblazoned on their golf bags as a constant reminder of his special place in the event's history. Ryder Cup Ryder Cup login Ryder Cup As the 2016 Ryder Cup approaches, we look at the PGA Professional coaches behind Ryder Cup Team Europe's lineup... VIEW RANKINGS As the 2016 Ryder Cup approaches, we look at the PGA Professional coaches behind Ryder Cup Team Europe's lineup... VIEW RANKINGS As the 2016 Ryder Cup approaches, we look at the PGA Professional coaches behind Ryder Cup Team Europe's lineup...

VIEW RANKINGS This hub is dedicated to celebrating coaching and shining a light on the PGA Professionals from around the world that are supporting, or have supported, the 12 members of Ryder Cup Team Europe. Click and Athlete or PGA Professional’s Name to Find Out More About Them… Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) - Coach: David Leadbetter (America) ▼ Rafa Cabrera Bello – – “My relationship with David is almost like a father-son relationship, he’s known me since I was 13 years old. He’s really seen my progress throughout my entire career, and the last 5-6 years he has been much more involved. What I like with David is that my swing has been improving through the years, but it’s been a very PROGRESSIVE improvement, it has never stopped me from playing or performing during swing changes.” Rafa Cabrera-Bello David Leadbetter began working with Rafa when he was just 13 years old having met when Rafa played golf with David’s son. Now, almost 20 years later, they continue their successful relationship that has resulted in multiple tour wins and his first Ryder Cup appearance in Hazeltine.

Ryder Cup Bio Cabrera-Bello is one of the most consistent players on The European Tour in recent years, having only finished outside the top 60 in The Race to Dubai once in the last seven seasons, he claimed his second European Tour victory in 2012 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, where he held off Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood. Made his European Tour breakthrough at the 2009 Austrian Golf Open thanks to a stunning final-round 60. Claimed the Spanish National Championship every year from Under-seven to Under-18 level after taking the game up at the age of six and played in the victorious Junior Ryder Cup side of 1999. Grew up next to a golf course in the Canary Islands, and his sister Emma competes on the Ladies European Tour. Owns a house in Bali, where he loves to spend time surfing. Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) - Mike Walker / Pete Cowen (GB&I) ▼ Matthew Fitzpatrick – – Cowen and Walker have worked with Fitzpatrick for a number of years and have seen him rise through the amateur ranks, earning various titles and invites to Professional events, and ultimately to a proven winner on Tour.

“I’m lucky to have two coaches in Pete Cowen and Mike Walker, and I have spent a lot of time with them, and have worked with Mike for four or five years now…I really can’t tell you how much influence they’ve had in getting me to where I am right now. I can’t thank them enough for the role they’ve played with me. I’m always working on all aspects of my game but a left hand below right hand drill has been helping me get a more consistent ball flight…It’s true that there aren’t many frills at the [Pete Cowen Golf] Academy but it’s a great place to work and Pete and Mike don’t do frills or the like.” Matt Fitzpatrick “You want to work with a kid who’s got a bit of street fighter in him. That’s what you need. Matt Fitzpatrick is the ideal example. He’s got that look in his eye. He’s a born competitor. He doesn’t know stage fright. He can play under immense pressure without feeling a thing. You can’t teach that. It has to be in them and you’ve got to find it and bring it out.

You want players who want to become not just good players but great players.” Pete Cowen Ryder Cup Bio One of The European Tour’s rising stars, the affable Englishman already has two victories to his name, with the first coming in memorable circumstances on home soil at the 2015 British Masters supported by Sky Sports, where he won wire-to-wire in front of packed galleries at Woburn Golf Club. The 21 year old did not have to wait long before claiming a second European Tour victory at the Nordea Masters in June thanks to another dominant display. First came to prominence courtesy of a stellar amateur career in which he won the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship as well as being the Number One ranked amateur for a total of 21 weeks..

Sergio Garcia (ESP) - Coach: Victor Garcia (Spain) ▼ Sergio Garcia 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 Spain 9-2-2 3-4-0 Sergio’s father, Victor, was the club pro at Mediterraneo Golf Club in Spain and has coached Sergio for his entire amateur and professional careers. When Sergio was young, Victor lined up a game with Sergio’s idol, Seve Ballesteros, sparking a friendship that lasted many years. Sergio has been criticised in the past for keeping his father as coach, but he has continued to strongly defend him any time the question has been raised and shoulders any blame himself. Sergio’s typically Spanish style and flare come from watching, playing with, and listening to his father. Ryder Cup Bio A veteran of seven Ryder Cups, the Spaniard has won 20.5 points from those appearances.

The 36 year old was unbeaten over the first two days at The K Club in 2006 – in the process, he became only the second player after Ian Woosnam to win all four points from his foursomes and fourball matches. Two years earlier, he became only the sixth player to claim four-and-a-half points out of a possible five in The Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills. He was one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice captains at Celtic Manor in 2010, when Europe won by a point. Garcia, who finished in the top five at both the 2016 US Open and the Open Championship, has won 11 times on the European Tour.. Martin Kaymer (GER) - Coach: Günter Kessler (Germany) ▼ Martin Kaymer 0-0-2 2-1-0 Martin Kaymer and his coach, Günter Kessler, have worked together since Kaymer was 12 years old, and have achieved greatness on a world scale through thick and thin.

Having reached the World Number 1 spot in 2011, Kaymer sought to change his game to introduce more shot-shaping under Kessler, but this saw him drop outside of the top-60 just a few years later. In 2014 Kessler and Kaymer went back to basics and reintroduced his fade that had served him so well, almost instantly resulting in winning performances including a US Open title. “My coach and me, we work for 15, 16 years together now and he’s always really under the radar,” Kaymer said. “But he has the biggest influence of my game. The way he’s teaching is not a way that you always need him. He’s not a very selfish person. He teaches the way that you can help yourself in a very simple way…He has the talent to teach really everyone, and that is for me really a world-class coach. He doesn’t like the big stage and he doesn’t like to be in all those newspapers and stuff. But I really believes he deserves that. It doesn’t make him a happier person, and that makes him even nicer…Working together worked out very well.

We have a lot of trust in each other because it worked out fairly well the first 13, 14 years.” Martin Kaymer “When [Martin] began taking lessons from me at the age of 12, he didn’t stand out among his peers right away…And we certainly had no reason to expect that he would become one of the world’s finest players. But from the very beginning, we did notice that he worked harder than the others.” Günter Kessler Ryder Cup Bio Played an important role in The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, where he won two points from four. Was Europe’s hero at The 2012 Ryder Cup, holing a six-foot putt on the last to defeat Steve Stricker and secure the point needed to complete a miraculous comeback and retain the Trophy. Made his debut in the biennial contest in 2010, the same year he won his first Major at the US PGA Championship. Rediscovered his best form in 2014 as a sensational wire-to-wire victory at the U.S. Open Championship brought him a second Major title’.

Rory McIlroy (IRL) - Coach: Michael Bannon (GB&I) ▼ Rory McIlroy 3-2-1 2-0-1 From being simply one integral cog in the international network of such PGA Professionals, Bannon has been catapulted into the world spotlight by McIlroy’s phenomenal performances in the past few years ,reflecting his repertoire of skills and sublime grasp of the intricacies of the golf swing. Demonstrably, McIlroy’s game represents much more than natural talent, more even that untold hours honing those talents on the range. Wise counsel and structured, individual coaching has been the adhesive that has pieced the simple yet complex jig-saw together. “Rory gathers good people around him, people he can trust. He’s also very strong mentally and has always sought the next level. He always wants to talk to and play with the good players to see what he can learn from them. Even as a young boy he used to like to show what he could do.

“He has such unbelievable skills, and works on it so hard all the time, that I’ve had to improve my ability as a coach if I’m to help him.” Michael Bannon “Credit goes to my longtime coach, Michael Bannon, who reacquainted me with five key moves I had strayed from in recent years. Use my fixes to transform your move into a championship swing. “Michael Bannon is the only coach I’ve ever had. It’s scary — he knows my swing better than I do. So when things started sliding south 18 months ago, he knew exactly what to do: Get back to the basics that rocketed me to No. 1 in the first place, using check points and feels that Michael taught me when I was a little kid.” Rory McIlroy Ryder Cup Bio Boasts an abundance of Ryder Cup pedigree, having played in every edition since 2010, winning eight points from his 14 matches in the process, with a highlight coming at Gleneagles in 2014, when the Northern Irishman beat Rickie Fowler 5&4 in the Sunday Singles.

He won his first Major in 2011 at the US Open where he broke records aplenty after shooting 16 under par. He doubled his tally at the 2012 US PGA Championship, before winning his other two Majors in a memorable 2014 season, when he lifted the Claret Jug at Hoylake before winning the US PGA Championship for a second time. The Northern Irishman has three Race to Dubai titles to his name, in 2012, 2014 and 2015. He also won the tournament he hosts through his charitable foundation, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, for this first time in May of this year thanks to a sensational closing eagle. Thomas Pieters (BEL) - Coach: Pete Cowen (GB&I) ▼ Thomas Pieters – Pieters has worked with Pete Cowen since he was 12 years old, after Cowen’s call-up to work with the Belgian amateur squads with the aim of nurturing European Tour-standard talent. And nurture he has – Pieters’ disciplined and dedicated approach has helped him along the way to 3 European Tour wins and a spot in the 2016 Team.

“I’ve worked with Thomas since he was 12…They said to us that we want more guys on the European Tour within five or ten years so I said you’ve got to put some processes in place and we did. “Thomas is a very disciplined practicer – he wants to know what’s right. If I say do it, he’ll do it. If I said standing on your head would make you a better golfer he’d go stand on his head. “He is very dedicated and knew where he was going from a very early age and you could see that.” Pete Cowen “I have the absolute number one coach under my arm. Pete is not a man that shouts from the rooftops about the successes of his players…For him, it’s about the players and not about himself.” Thomas Pieters Ryder Cup Bio Finished the Ryder Cup qualifying period in style by finishing second in his defence of the D+D REAL Czech Masters and then winning the Made in Denmark tournament to claim his third European Tour title.

Having impressed in his rookie season on the European Tour in 2014, won twice in consecutive appearances in 2015, first at the D+D REAL Czech Masters in August and then a fortnight later at the KLM Open. Long tipped as one of the stars of the future, he came through all three stages of the 2013 Qualifying School. Enjoyed a celebrated amateur college career in America, where he overcame Major Champion Jordan Spieth and former world amateur number one Patrick Cantlay to win the NCAA Division I Golf Championship in his sophomore year at the University of Illinois.. 2-0-1 Ryder Cup Bio Played a leading role in The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014, when the Englishman formed a formidable partnership with Henrik Stenson over the first two days on the way to remaining undefeated and claiming four points out of a possible five, as Europe cruised to a 16 ½ – 11 ½ victory. Arguably the 35 year old’s finest Ryder Cup moment came in the “Miracle at Medinah” in 2012, when he secured a vital point in the Sunday Singles against Phil Mickelson.

2016 saw Rose become a history makers becoming golf’s first Olympic Champion since 1904 with his two shot victory over Henrik Stenson in Rio. Made his Major Championship breakthrough winning the U.S. Open in 2013 at Merion Golf Club. Rose has won eight events on The European Tour, including the WGC Cadillac Championship in 2012. Henrik Stenson (SWE) - Coach: Pete Cowen (GB&I) ▼ Henrik Stenson 2-1-1 1-2-0 Henrik Stenson, and his coach, Pete Cowen, have worked together for over 15 years, and whilst there have been multiple downs, there have also been some incredible highs, namely Henrik’s maiden Major win at the 2016 Open Championship. “I’ve worked with Henrik now for 15 years and he’s had two very big ups and downs in his career so obviously he’s come back from those – he’s a pretty strong character.

“He wants to be perfect – he’s got three types of hitting the ball which is good, very good and perfect, and he can’t accept good and very good so you’re knocking two thirds out, whereas he could win on all three if he wants. He’s a total one-off that you have to be very careful how you actually phrase it to him – he’s totally different to everyone else.” Pete Cowen “I owe him a lot…He’s put in so much hard work with me over the years. I’m pleased to have him by my side.” Henrik Stenson Ryder Cup Bio The newly-crowned Champion Golfer of the Year has played in three Ryder Cups, and has been on the winning side in two of those appearances – latterly in 2014 and memorably on his debut in 2006, when he holed the winning putt at The K Club. His victory at the 2013 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai made him the first player to win both the Race to Dubai and the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup in the same season.

The big Swede has won 11 European Tour titles, with two of those titles coming within the space of a month this year – firstly in Germany at the BMW International Open, before the 40 year old claimed the biggest victory of his career at the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon, after coming through a titanic final day battle with Phil Mickelson. He broke the record for the lowest score at any Major both in relation to par (20 under par) and aggregate shots (264). His amazing 2016 continued when he claimed the silver medal in Rio at the Olympic Men’s Golf Tournament. Related News Olympic Coaches – Pete Cowen & Henrik Stenson The PGAs of Europe caught up with coach The Open Champion, Henrik Stenson’s, coach, Pete Cowen (PGA of GB&I), to find out more about how they work together… Read more… Andy Sullivan (ENG) - Coach: Jamie Gough (South Africa) ▼ Matthew Fitzpatrick – – Sullivan switched to Jamie Gough from Craig Phillips in 2013 seeking to take his career to the next level, most recently working on his shaping, and specifically fading, of the ball.

Gough himself turned Professional at 18 years of age and by 1990 had set up multiple golf schools, employing over 30 Professionals, and gathering his own elite lineup of pupils that includes the likes of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Gregory Havret, Anders Hansen, and Jose Maria Olazabal to name but a few. “When I was younger, I was a big drawer of the ball, which gave me length, but not great control. “But I have been working for two years with Jamie on hitting a left-to-right shape for more control, and over the last seven months that has begun to feel a lot more natural. It’s been like going from one extreme to another, but it has definitely made my play far more consistent.” Andy Sullivan Ryder Cup Bio Played a significant role in Europe’s victory in the EurAsia Cup earlier this year, when the Englishman had a perfect record after winning three out of three matches. Burst onto the scene in 2015 after winning three European Tour titles, including two triumphs in as many months in Johannesburg, before cruising to an impressive nine stroke victory in the Portugal Masters in October.

Finished off a remarkable 2015 season by pushing McIlroy all the way at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, before eventually finishing one shot behind the Northern Irishman. Turned professional in 2011 after representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen.. Lee Westwood (ENG) - Coach: Pete Cowen (GB&I) ▼ Lee Westwood 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 Great Britain & Ireland 9-4-4 3-6-0 Cowen and Westwood’s relationship has lasted through thick and thin, beginning back in the mid-1990s. Since then he has arguably become the best player to have not won a major but has amassed a huge number of tournament wins and top-10 performances.

In late 2012 Westwood changed coach away from Cowen, but by 2014 was back with him and sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella, and was back uo the rankings. “I started working with Pete Cowen again at Houston and it had a pretty immediate effect. We just did a couple of hours there and then an hour at the Masters and I think that showed at Augusta. I started hitting the ball a lot straighter and iron shots were a lot better. I just feel a lot more aggressive but a lot more calm on the greens, and my short game’s good, as well.” Lee Westwood “He’s had his chances [for majors], he’s a great ball-striker. He lost his way a bit in the early 2000s but came back to number 1…he’s had his chances where he probably should of won…so when the door opens, you definitely need to walk through – it’s just a question of him walking through one of these times and hopefully he gets more chances.” Pete Cowen Ryder Cup Bio Has played in every Ryder Cup since 1997, which is a testament to the Englishman’s longevity and quality.

Westwood has won 23 points from those nine matches and has only been on the losing side twice. He was unbeaten in the 2004 and 2006 tournaments, and equalled Arnold Palmer’s record at Valhalla in 2008 when he made it 12 matches without defeat. The first of his 23 European Tour titles came at the Scandinavian Masters in 1996 – an event he has won three times. His most recent victory on The European Tour came in 2014 at the Maybank Malaysian Open, where he showed all his class to win by seven strokes. Danny Willett (ENG) - Coach: Mike Walker/Pete Cowen (GB&I) ▼ Danny Willett – – Mike Walker and Pete Cowen have worked with Willett for other three years and have seen him rise up the rankings with various wins including his maiden Major at the 2016 Maters. Willett’s success can be traced down the line through various PGA Professionals including PGA of GB&I Professionals, Graham Walker and Peter Ball, from introducing him to the sport and then nurturing his progress through turning Professional in 2008 all the way to his first major.

“With Pete and Mike, you work on uncomfortable things. Every time you go to the range, you aren’t turning up to get a pat on the back, to be told how well you are doing. You go there to try and get better, to try and get that 1% better. “I felt like I had done enough work, that I had hit enough balls under their supervision that each shot I was faced with, I just went through the same process. I tried to remind myself of the shots I hit back on the range.” Danny Willett “I started working with Danny three years ago along with Mike Walker and Nick Huby. We’re all singing from the same hymn sheet in terms of the mechanics…There’s a good continuity in what we teach…which means the players can then trust it under pressure. “There have been a lot of people involved with Danny’s rise to the top, at Birley Wood, Pete Ball – without that we wouldn’t have seen Danny Willett at all. Then he went to Rotherham, Graham Walker coached him through the England Golf set-up. “With certain players like that, we add the finishing touches.

I always say that what we do is get them over the line.” Pete Cowen “From a municipal to the Masters! He is an inspiration and shows all the kids in Sheffield what can be achieved if you put your mind to something. He is a great example and if it gets kids out playing, that’s all that matters. “Danny always had a great determination and work ethic and his ability to stay calm under severe pressure over those closing holes [at The Masters] was just incredible.” Peter Ball Ryder Cup Bio This has been a year to remember for Willett, thanks largely to his sensational maiden Major Championship victory at The Masters in April, which was his second win of the season following the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title he picked up in February. The Englishman was part of Darren Clarke’s victorious European team at the EURASIA CUP back in January, when he contributed two out of a possible three points. The 28 year old pushed Rory McIlory all the way in the 2015 Race to Dubai before eventually finishing second in the rankings, after a superb season which included his wins in the Omega European Masters and the Nedbank Golf Challenge. His first European Tour win came at the 2012 BMW International.

Before joining the professional ranks, he was a member of Great Britain and Ireland’s 2007 Walker Cup Team. Chris Wood (ENG) - Coach: Walker, Cowen & Mitchell (GB&I) ▼ Chris Wood Mike Walker / Paul Mitchell / Pete Cowen Country: – – Wood is another graduate from the school of ‘Cowen & Walker’ having been out on Tour since 2008 and earning three wins, the most recent of which was the 2016 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – a win that catapulted him into a Ryder Cup Team spot. Wood works with various PGA Professionals including Paul Mitchell from Bristol and Clifton Golf Club, his original coach from the age of 14, and included Mike Walker and Pete Cowen in his team from around May 2015. “I always said this guy is a multiple major winner and hopefully this will also put him in good stead for the Ryder Cup. It will be great for his confidence, he’s been working on all the right things and this is a sign of things to come.

“He’s been scratching around and had a lot of injuries but he’s got a great team behind him and he’s a top five player and he’s really starting to blossom. I always said he would be world number one – but it’s not that easy is it!” Paul Mitchell “He feels he swings best when he swings left to right because it takes one side of the course out of play and we’ve been very focused on that. “Chris had made steady progress up to [winning the 2016 BMW PGA Championship] without making any headlines but his ranking had climbed massively and this is the icing on the cake. This is a great boost for him. He’s known as being a good guy but genuinely is a great bloke and this makes the win even more special. “Chris has always believed in himself but the belief needs bolstering with reality and if he did have any doubts they should be blown away by what he achieved at Wentworth.” Mike Walker Ryder Cup Bio Claimed the biggest victory of his career in 2016, when he won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to continue his surge up the Official World Golf Ranking.

His season had started positively at the EURASIA CUP in Malaysia, where the Englishman won two out of three matches to help the team to a comfortable victory. His breakthrough win on The European Tour was a spectacular one at the 2013 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters where he eagled the final hole to win by a single shot. His second title came at the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity in 2015. The 28 year old won the Silver Medal at The Open Championship in 2008, when he finished tied for fifth. At 6ft 6in, he matches Robert Karlsson and Thomas Pieters as the tallest players on Tour. Q&A With Chris Wood | GolfNews.co.uk How Did They Qualify? The United States will have eight players determined by points, while the European Team will have nine – the first four coming from the European Points List and the next five from the World Points List. Europe has three Captain’s Picks, while the USA has four. Page 1 of 41 2 3 4 » Like many good ideas, The Ryder Cup Matches emanated from a casual conversation in a clubhouse bar after a successful day’s golf.

The year was 1926, the clubhouse was Wentworth and the day’s golf was an unofficial match between the professionals of Great Britain and Ireland and the United States. After the match, Samuel Ryder, a prosperous seed merchant from St Albans and avid follower of the game, casually remarked: “We must do this again.” This was seized upon by, among others, George Duncan, a leading professional of the day, and when Ryder was prevailed upon to present a trophy, so the Ryder Cup was born. The first encounter took place in 1927 and now, over 80 years later, the match stands at the pinnacle of the game as an example of keenly contested rivalry, tempered by sportsmanship and friendliness. Over the years, many changes have taken place to the original format of four foursomes and eight singles, each over 36 holes, but after an initial sharing of victories over the first four matches, it was the Americans who asserted dominance. From 1935 to 1955 (no matches were staged during the war), the Americans were untroubled.

In 1957, Dai Rees and his men turned the tables at Lindrick but thereafter it was much the same mixture as before with the more the match was expanded, the greater the American winning margin. Following the 22nd match in 1977, it was decided to incorporate players from Continental Europe and this heralded a shift in the balance of power. After a touch and go encounter in 1983, the Europeans recorded a famous victory in 1985 at The Belfry, then won for the first time on American soil in 1987 and retained the trophy after a tie in 1989. Fortunes swung to the Americans in 1991 and 1993 but back to the Europeans in 1995 and 1997. The Americans won at home in 1999 by the narrowest of margins but Europe regained the trophy at The Belfry in 2002.

With Bernhard Langer guiding Europe to another victory at Oakland Hills in 2004 (a fourth win in five) which became five in six when the Americans were again swept aside at Ireland’s K Club and Ian Woosnam became another triumphant European captain. In 2008, however, the tide turned and the USA, under the proud captaincy of Paul Azinger, claimed back the trophy in a very exciting three days at Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky. The 2010 Matches took place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales. Whilst it might have been the country’s first time at hosting the event, the Matches did not disappoint in drama and stature. European Captain, Colin Montgomerie, and his team fought the United States’ Corey Pavin and team through sever weather conditions that brought on a Monday finish that culminated in Graeme McDowell defeating Hunter Mahan 3 & 1 to regain the Cup for Europe. 2012 saw the Matches move back to American soil and Medinah Country Club in Chicgo, Illinois, and played host to perhaps the greatest comeback seen in sporting history.

Europe trailed the USA with 6 points to their 10 at the beginning of the final day, maening Europe needed 8.5 points from a potential 12. In the spirit of the late, great European player, Seve Ballesteros, the European players battled throughout the day until it was left to Germany’s Martin Kaymer who holed a five-foot putt on the 18th hole to defeat Steve Stricker and retain the trophy. Tiger Woods and Francesco Molinari were the only other group out and after a missed putt on 18 from Woods and a concession to Molinari, their match was halved giving Europe the half they needed to secure an outright win of the Ryder Cup. The 40th Ryder Cup matches were held 26–28 September 2014 in Scotland on the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel near Auchterarder in Perthshire. The team captains in 2014 were Paul McGinley for Europe and Tom Watson for the USA.

Europe won the 2014 competition to retain the Ryder Cup, defeating the USA by 16 1⁄2 points to 11 1⁄2, for their third consecutive win. USEFUL LINKS

Question: Which year was the first after 1927 that the USA lost the Ryder Cup on home soil?
Answer: 1987